The Webbys were founded in 1996 to honour the best in web design and function.

This year, over 4,000 nominations were sent from 40 different countries around the world.

Nominees are selected by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, whose members include musician David Bowie, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson and Simpsons creator Matt Groening.

The decision to allow a People's Choice award to sit alongside the main Webby award has ensured a wide range of sites are included.

However, the two do not always match. While the Webby for Financial Services went to Fortune, the People's Choice went to PayPal, the system used to send money to anyone with an email address.

The UK's Guardian Unlimited won the Best Newspaper category. It was the only UK paper to be nominated and was up against US heavyweights such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post.

Popular site Rathergood.com won in both the Humour and Weird categories. The site famous for punk kittens now features, among other things, animated pandas singing about biscuits.

BBC delight

The Webbys have come to represent the best on the web, said organisers.

"Since their birth in San Francisco nearly a decade ago, The Webby Awards have evolved into a global institution embraced by industry leaders and the public alike," said Tiffany Shlain, founder and creative director of the Webby awards.

Pete Clifton, editor of BBC News Interactive, was pleased to add another Webby to his collection.

"We are delighted to pick up the Webby again for best News site, and it is particularly pleasing to be acknowledged in the People's Voice category too," he said.

"It's all down to a great team effort, and getting the approval of users around the world is the best reward we could wish for."